Schools & Education Services

A wealth of resources for caregivers of children aged 0 to 6 years. DDEYC is a coalition of local organizations partnering to support families in our community. Resource information is subject to change and was last updated February 2026. For a downloadable version of this information, click here. You can also join their Facebook group!

Infant & Baby Supports

Wild Womb Doula Services
Lindsay Lewkowitz, Certified Holistic Birth and Postpartum Doula. Contact at 1(226) 984-9874 or wildwomb.doulaservice@gmail.com. You can also visit www.wildwombdoulaservices.com

Katie Hill Doula Services
Offering pregnancy preparation, childbirth education and in-person birth support to help families approach labor with knowledge, confidence, and calm. Call 1(780) 235-2778, hillkatie1225@gmail.com, or visit
www.katiehilldoula.com

Birth in Bloom Doula Services
Emily Gamble, Doula. Hospital-grade breast pump rentals available. Call 1(807) 323-3565, visit the Facebook page, or email emily-gamble@hotmail.com

Dryden Area Family Health Team—Healthy New Beginnings
Health teaching for pregnant women. Visit www.nwhu.on.ca or call 1(807) 223-7406 to speak with a Registered Nurse.

Northwestern Health Unit—Healthy Babies Healthy Children
Prenatal, postpartum, and early childhood support for parents and caregivers. Self-refer online at www.nwhu.on.ca or call 1(800) 465-4377.

Northwestern Health Unit—Infant Hearing Program
Universal hearing screening for babies (0-8 weeks). Call 1(877) 553-7122.

NorWest Community Health Centres—Virtual Lactation Consultant
Call 1(807) 622-8235 to book an appointment.

Licensed Child Care Centres

Kenora District Services Board—Early Years Services
Application forms can be found online at www.kdsb.on.ca. For more information, call the Admin. Assistant at 1(807) 223-2100 Ext. 2485.

Homeward Bound Daycare (Dryden Native Friendship Centre)
Contact the Supervisor at 1(807) 223-4180.

Dryden Nursery School Co-Op
Contact Supervisor/RECE, Marnie Oliphant at (807) 223-2433 or Cell: 1(807) 938-8091. Follow on Facebook www.facebook.com/DrydenNurserySchool/ 

Vermilion Bay Nursery School
Call 1(807) 227-5437 or vbayhub4kids@gmail.com

Early Childhood Development Centre—Eagle Lake First Nation
Contact the Supervisor/RECE at 1(807) 755-1640 or resource@migisi.ca

Drop‒In Centres

Kenora District Services Board—Dryden EarlyON Child & Family Centre
For monthly calendars, visit the Facebook page or https://kdsb.on.ca/  Call 1(807) 223-7145 (Albert St.) or 1(807) 220-2965 (King St.).

Homeward Bound EarlyON Child & Family Centre—Dryden Native Friendship Centre
Visit the Facebook page, earlyon@dnfconline.org, or call 1(807) 220-2598.

Vermilion Bay EarlyON Child & Family Centre
Email: vbayhub4kids@gmail.com, visit the Facebook page, or call 1(807) 227-5437.

Dryden Public Library
Info and monthly calendars can be found on the Facebook page or by calling 1(807) 223-1475.

Developmental/Mental Health Services

FIREFLY-Infant & Child Development
Families can self-refer for Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnostic Hub, Ontario Autism Program Services, Specialty Clinics, Mental Health support and more. Visit www.fireflynw.ca or call 1(800) 465-7203.

Dryden Regional Health Centre—Mental Health & Addictions
For counselling and services for children and youth, call 1(807) 223-6678.

Northwestern Health Unit
A variety of programs and services for new parents, caregivers and families with children 0-6.

• North Words Preschool Speech & Language and Blind/Low Vision Program: Speech and language assessments and
  blind/low vision intervention and consultation for families. Visit www.nwhu.on.ca or call 1(807) 553-7122.
• Parenting Support: Visit www.nwhu.on.ca
• School Readiness: Visit www.nwhu.on.ca 

Northwestern Health Unit—Parenting Support
Speech and language assessments and blind/low vision intervention and consultation for families. Visit www.nwhu.on.ca or call 1(807) 553-7122.

Medical Services

Optometry
Lockyer Optometry: 1(807) 221-2020
Foresight Optical, Partners of FYIdoctors: 1(807) 223-6895

Dental
Sunset Country Dental: 1(807) 223-6479
Dryden Dental Clinic: 1(807) 223-7444
King Street Family Dental: 1(807) 223-2483
Northern Dental Clinic: 1(807) 223-3012
Uptown Dental: 1(807) 223-5808
Northwestern Health Unit (Dental Health): 1(855) 407-6453

Clinics
Dingwall Medical Clinic: 1(807) 223-6683
Dryden Area Family Health Team: 1(807) 223-7406
Points North Family Health Team (Vermilion Bay): 1(807) 227-2675
Waasegiizhig Nanaandawe’iyewigamig (WNHAC): 1(888) 699-6422 Ext. 600
Eagle Lake Health and Resource Centre: 1(888) 755-1157
For immunization services: speak with your health care provider, local clinic, or call the Northwestern Health Unit at 1(807) 223-3301.

Pelvic Floor Physio
Dryden Regional Health Centre, Physio Department—Jane Kennedy, MSc (PT)
Prenatal and postpartum pelvic floor physiotherapy care supporting pregnancy, birth recover, pelvic health, and core rehabilitation. Referrals can be made through a family physician or nurse practitioner.

Sunset Country Physiotherapy—Jessica Skillen, PT
Postpartum pelvic floor physiotherapy care, & supports for plagiocephaly, brachycephaly and torticollis also offered through doctor referral. Self referrals can be made by calling 1(807) 220-5711 or sunsetcountryphysio@gmail.com

Useful Medical Resources
Hospital—Dryden Regional Health Centre: 24/7 emergency and inpatient services. Call 1(807) 223-8200

Ontario Poison Centre: 24/7 telephone services. Call 1(844) 764-7669

Ontario Health—Health 811: 24/7 confidential support. Dial 811 or visit www.health811.ontario.ca to use the chat.

The Kenora District Services Board (KDSB) is the Service System Manager for all Early Learning and Care Programs throughout the Kenora District. Child Care and Early Years Programs are legislated by Ontario’s Child Care and Early Years Act 2014. The KDSB provides direct delivery of child care in some communities within the Kenora District. Service agreements are put in place with licenced child care operators throughout the District. If you are looking for daycare for your child, see the information below.

EarlyON Child and Family Centres offer free, drop-in programs for children and their parents/caregivers. EarlyON centres are places to engage and connect with others in the community and feel a sense of belonging.

You will be welcomed by qualified early year’s professionals who can provide support, advice, and helpful resources. EarlyON centres are where children and their parents/caregivers can learn, play, laugh, be curious, make friends and engage with others.

Dryden Nursery School Co-Op is a parent cooperative program operating five days a week and offering four different programs. Monday and Tuesday from 9:00 to 11:30 or 1:00 to 3:30. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9:00 to 11:30 or 1:00 to 3:30. The three day program is an approved integrated program and in addition to participating in the daily routine, individual programs for children with developmental or physical needs are conducted by our resource teacher. Parent involvement is crucial in the success of the program. Parents serve in some capacity by sharing time in the classroom by helping out and providing a nutritious snack and with fundraising events or committee duties. The program accommodates children aged 2 1/2 to 6 years. 

An excellent choice in education, renowned for their welcoming nature, our kindness, and Francophone and Catholic pride, Conseil scolaire de district catholique des Aurores boréales (CSDCAB) has schools located in Dryden, Red Lake, Ignace, Thunder Bay, Terrace Bay, Marathon, Nakina, Longlac, Geraldton and Sioux Lookout.

The Northwest Catholic District School Board (TNCDSB) Schools of Hope provide all students a safe, respectful and inclusive Catholic education. They have 5 Catholic elementary schools serving the communities of Dryden, Sioux Lookout, Atikokan, Fort Frances, Rainy River and First Nations within the jurisdiction of the Board in Northwestern Ontari​o.

A progressive and proud public school board that serves the communities of beautiful Northwestern Ontario. They have schools in Dryden, Kenora, Sioux Narrows, Vermilion Bay, Ear Falls, Red Lake, Sioux Lookout, Ignace, Pickle Lake, Savant Lake and Upsala as well as serving the educational needs of many neighbouring and far north First Nation communities.